Term 1 Week 10
The end of term has arrived upon us incredibly quickly ( I know…I say this at the end of each term!) Sometimes we forget how busy first term always is and the many activities, learning and events we pack into the ten weeks. There are many people who continue to be an anchor of hope to provide a safe, welcoming, contemporary learning environment at St Augustine’s. We end a fantastic term having achieved so much in a short time: beginning of year liturgy, Parent Auxiliary activities and fundraisers, MOSA run activities, Advisory Council first meeting, 2025 Prep information sessions, 2026 prospective prep information sessions, parent/teacher conversations, Confirmation, 3-6 swimming program, inter school sports Fridays, St Patrick’s day at the cathedral with student leaders, Monday morning assemblies and wards, school funrun, lunch orders, school photos, along with the many compliance requirements undertaken and staff personal learning opportunities. The students have settled in well to their classes and continued solidly with their learning. Bring on Term Two!! Thank you to everyone for being a part of all this and the part you have played in ensuring a successful and rich term! Don’t forget that term 0ne finishes on Friday (tomorrow) at 1pm. Join us at 12.30pm for the Easter raffle assembly.
Last Friday evening our year six children celebrated Confirmation with their families, staff and Fr Ananda. Unfortunately Bishop Terry Curtin was unable to confirm our children due to a serious health diagnosis and testing. I ask that you keep him in your thoughts and prayers. The children were well prepared by their classroom teachers and Mrs Barone our Religious Education Leader. It was a beautiful celebration and a special way to end the term.
Anne Durham our Environment and Sustainability Leader has been busy working with the Yr 3/4s this term. They had a project to create a scarecrow for the Flower and Garden show. The children all attended on an excursion to the show and had the opportunity to see all the other scarecrows made by different schools. I am pleased to announce that our scarecrow won the people’s choice award. Thanks everyone for voting!
Term two starts with a busy schedule for the first two weeks. The following are dates to remember and prepare for:
Monday 21st April – Easter Monday (Public holiday. No school)
Tuesday 22nd April – Term Two starts
Thursday 24th April – Whole School Interschool sports day at Keilor athletics track. (Lunch orders available-order on Spriggy. Orders will close Sunday April 20th and no late orders will be accepted)
Friday 25th April – ANZAC Day public holiday. No School
Monday 28th April – Whole School closure day. Teacher professional learning day. No children
At the start of Term Two we will be activating our online absentee form through the Nforma portal. The portal will allow parents to mark all student absences including late arrival and early departure. If you are going on an extended family holiday (more than 3 days) this will need to be marked on the portal and an extended leave form will also need to still be filled in. Our current online absentee form will be decommissioned. If you have any issues with using the portal please notify the office.
During the holidays there will be a number of tradespeople onsite as we have an overhaul of our PA system throughout the school including in Cooinda. Major landscaping will be completed in front of the portables to create a ‘Piazza’ for the middle and senior students to use as an outdoor learning space. A large 12 seater outdoor table will also be installed between the staff room and 5/6T. Blinds will be maintained and repaired throughout the school with new blinds installed in 3/4AT. During term one the decking on year 3/4AT and the decking adjacent to the planning room were built. These offer extra space for learning and continue to spruce up the school.
On Wednesday the year 3/4 children presented the Easter story through a pilgrimage through the back area of the school. Many parents came with us on this pilgrimage. In celebration of the Jubilee year and the theme of ‘Pilgrims of Hope, it was a fitting and reverent way to present the Easter story to the school community. Thank you to the teachers and children who organised this and presented the story a number of times during the day.
Have a peaceful Easter and a re energising holiday and may the risen Christ shine His light in us, through us and over us and bring us renewed hope and faith with his Resurrection.
Cathy Steere
